Today's run sucked! What am I doing wrong?

Try slowing down a bit. That should do the trick.

All runners have bad days. When I was running there were days I would have a great time, feel great after the run and enjoy. Every once and a while I would do the same route and the run just totally sucked. I felt winded, I couldn't get my stride and it was not fun. It happens. Don't worry about this run and make the next great.

running has its good days and its bad days. could be a number of factors.....hydration, nutrition, mental, stress/exhaustion, etc. Don't get discouraged, rest up, and be ready to hit the next day of C25k with a vengeance!

If your run sucks, that means you're doing it right. I hate running. I do it alot for the positive effects (and that it's mandatory for me), but I don't have to like it.


On a serious note, some days just suck. No rhyme or reason. Keep at it.

we all have bad runs. i find im at my best early morning weekends. im well rested & my mind is mostly clear. those days, i feel as if i could run forever.

happy running!

All runners experience bad runs. Its a reality that we all share. Put in perspective, its bad runs that make those great runs special.

If you are only running every other day, I wouldn't add any more rest days but rather examine possible other reasons for having had a bad day.

Did you have a bad lunch day? Not enough protein? Too much protein? Upset stomach? Didn't sleep well? Life happens.

In the same vane, examine the reasons to run. Life Happens, and the stress relief and endorphins released by running will leave you better equipped to handle the negative aspects. I find I am an immensely more positive person when I can squeeze in those runs. Did you know that runners live on average 7 years longer than people who don't run? That number increases greatly when its you, a non runner and a grizzly :laugh:

Keep it fresh... try not to run the same route every time out. A change of scenery is often helpful in keeping you motivated. This is the very reason I can't run on a treadmill... it's boring. Some of my best runs are those that add an element of adventure (i.e. running up Johnson Canyon near Jasper was one of my favorite runs... challenging and the wilderness was breathtaking)

Run with a friend... if you can't find a friend to run with, consider Run Clubs at your local running store. Running can be a great social experience and gives you someone to talk with. It's great therapy. In Canada, Running Room has a free run club on Wednesdays and Sundays. Everyone is welcome! I believe most chain running stores offer similar programs as well.

Never be discouraged by what you have done... at least you have had the strength to do it. Take a few minutes, examine your reasons for a bad run, and then discard the negative aspect because it's all behind you. Remember, you've still run further than that person who has never left the couch.

Keep it up! Running is awesome and so are you for trying!

Years ago, I read an article about running - it said for every 5 runs, one will be fantastic; three will be ho-hum ok; and one will really suck. Hey, if it were easy, don't you think everyone would be out running 5k's?!

And I second the recommendation to slow down. Most new runners miss the mark on pacing, heading out way too fast. At this point, it isn't about speed, it's about building endurance. The speed will come after your body is used to the 5k.

I second slowing down. I'd also add that I've been running for 15 years and some runs are just bad for no discernible reason! You have to put it behind you and move on.

If you find the whole of this week on C25K tough, there's no reason why you can't repeat it, then the next step up will feel that much easier.

I'm on week 3 of the Couch-to-5k. After a brutal first day, it's been going pretty well since. However, today sucked.

I did the 5 minute warm-up walk then jogged for 90 seconds, no problems whatsoever. I then did the 90 seconds walking and headed into the 3 minutes jogging. Felt okay after that too, a bit more tired but not feeling horrible. After the 3 minutes walking I went back into the 90 seconds jogging and hit a wall. My legs felt so weak, like they were going to give out underneath me. I had to stop after 60 seconds. I decided to give myself a little more time walking after that, so I walked for a minute and a half and set into jogging again. Hit the wall again and could only go for 30.

The problem isn't that I'm out of breath (though I am breathing pretty hard). My legs just feel so weak. When I was nearly back home I felt like I was going to collapse, not from exhaustion but from weakness. The other problem is that my legs are the strongest and most muscular part of my body. So what am I doing wrong? Should I eat more carbs (ate 146 out of my allotted 296 yesterday)? Am I not drinking enough water (drank a huge glass before the run and my entire water bottle during)?

You are doing nothing wrong, it was just a bad training day.

What really counts is how you handle that bad day, are you going to persevere or are you going to get disheartened.

Your training sessions will go through cycles like this throughout your life, you can never, ever expect to have great sessions every single time.

Just put this particular session down to a bad day, why that bad day occurred is anybody's guess, from you being slightly under the weather to the heat or the cold (depending on the temperatures where you are) to what you ate (or did not eat), to how much sleep you got (or did not get)..... hell, the list is virtually endless.

Now do you see just how many possibilities can interrupt your previous great sessions.

Just continue, it is all part of your training.

a lot of people have already said this, but I feel it bears repeating. All runners have bad days. It doesn't matter how many miles you log you will never put bad days behind you. The more conditioned your legs, heart, and lungs become you will most definitely have fewer. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It sounds super cheesy, but when it comes to running it's all you can really do if you want to be successful.

How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.

Could be anything and people react differently to different methods/tricks/situations. Is it hotter today than normal? My legs feel like cement sometimes when it's hot/humid.....so like right now, it's been around 105 in the evenings when I normally run, so I've switched to running in the early AM.

I also like to have a GU pack or a tablespoon of peanut butter about 15-20 minutes before I run as the carbs give me a little "kick" of energy. After a long run (more than 45 minutes) I have 8 oz of low fat chocolate milk as a recovery drink...this helps (for me, anyway) replace the glycogen I burned during my run and makes the next days run that much easier.

How much are you eating? You may not have enough fuel for your body.

I would somewhat disagree that this is your problem when you are just beginning running and not on workouts that are intense for over an hour. Just my opinion.

I will second that opinion.